RHS Gardening Through The Year: Month-by-month Planning Instructions and Inspiration

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If you have a lawn, now is the time to show it some TLC with some autumn lawn care. Rake it thoroughly with a wire rake to remove the moss and thatch and then spike it to aerate the soil and improve drainage. A sprinkling of phosphate feed wouldn’t go amiss either. Sweep up any patio areas removing any dead leaves or foliage and use the best pressure washer to clean the paving of mildew. Following the best methods for how to get rid of weeds now will mean you can reap the benefits during summer.

June is a glorious month in the garden, with more lush growth than at any other time of the year and any new flowerbed ideas will begin to take centre stage. Find out when the best time is for pruning rose bushes, when your potatoes will be ready to harvest, how to keep your lawn green and well-fed, and learn how to plan ahead with this comprehensive gardening book. Prepare new lawn areas by weeding, digging them over, treading level and raking. Then let the soil settle before turfing later.

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If you're learning how to grow potatoes, earth them up regularly as the foliage grows, keeping any tubers well covered.

Drape netting over blueberries, currants and cherries to keep the birds off. And if you're learning how to grow strawberries, make sure you protect them from birds before the fruits color. Shrubs with vibrant new growth fill the gap between spring bulbs and summer perennials and there’s plenty to enjoy at lower level, including alliums, foxgloves and newly planted tender plants, while scent is provided by philadelphus, wisteria, roses and the first of the sweet peas. Mow the lawn just once a fortnight to keep it healthy during dry periods – the taller leaves develop longer roots which can withstand drought better. Whether you're looking to refresh your garden or you're thinking about getting an allotment, RHS Gardening Through The Year is the ideal gardening gift that you and your friends will return to time and time again for seasonal garden inspiration and advice. Spend some time repairing bald patches of lawn by following our tips on how to plant grass seed. Keep the soil moist while the seed germinates.Start dahlia tubers into growth. Bury in pots of compost, leaving the old stem exposed place in a light, frost-free spot. There's more tips on how to grow dahlias in our guide. Either way, your September gardening jobs are about getting the garden ready for the months ahead –by collecting seeds, sowing hardy annuals and winter veg and keeping on top of the falling leaves. Now the weather is warmer, slugs and snails are about. Follow our tips for how to get rid of slugs and go on a torch-lit hunt so you can protect vulnerable young plants. Sow biennials for next year such as wallflowers, honesty, foxgloves, Sweet Williams, forget-me-nots and Canterbury bells.